Battery terminal protective device



July 13, 1943. c. HELM BATTERY TERMINAL PROTECTIVEIDEVICE Filed Nov. 3, 1942 i' lsck'la7//////////////////////y Q'BEIW///////////////////// l jwocwto/n: Clyde Helm,

,. llll llllll Patented July 13, 1943 S'raTnli iirtTilNT OFFICE BATTERY TERMINAL PROTECTIVE DEVICE Clyde Heim, Kansas City, Mo.

Application November 3, 1942, Serial No. 464,327

Il Claims. (Cl. 173--259) My invention relates to a new and useful battery connector or clamp for use more particularly on the terminals of automotive storage batteries, although I do not wish to be conned to the use of my invention on this particular type of battery but reserve the right to use it on the terminal posts oi all other batteries to which it can be applied either in the form shown in the accompanying drawing, or in such other forms and modifications thereof as may fall within the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

The chief object of my invention is to provide battery clamps with protective means of suitable insulating material that will prevent corrosion of the clamps and the battery posts to which they are applied by keeping them free from dust, water, electrolyte and other foreign substances having a detrimental eiect upon the terminals I3 and I4, that extend over the upper ends of the posts B and C and the respective bolts 'I and 8. The protectors II and I2 have extensions I5 and IE covering the jaws 5 and 6 of the clamps and provided with axially alined tubular projections II and I8 which encase and protect intermediate portions of the respective bolts 'I and 8, but are sufficiently flexible to permit the respective jaws 5 and 6 to be drawn toward each other by the associated bolts and nuts. The protectors I I and I2 also have sleeves I9 and 2S which cover adjacent ends of the respective wire conductors 3 and 4.

The protectors I I and I2 comprise any suitable insulating material such, for example, as a rubber composition, a plastic composition, or any other appropriate insulating material that will prevent corrosion of the terminal posts B and C, the clamps I and 2, the bolts 'I and 8, and adjacent and efliciency of the battery. o ends of the respective wire conductors 3 and 4, In order that the invention may be fully underby keeping them free of detrimental foreign substood, reference will now be had to the accomstances. The material constituting the protectors panying drawing, in which: il and I2 is sufficiently resilient to permit nor- Fig. l is a plan view of a storage battery, the mal contraction or expansion of the clamps I terminals oi which are equipped with the pro- :1,3 and 2 while being applied to or removed from tective means. the respective terminal posts B and C.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a terminal clamp In order that electric current from the battery equipped with the protective means. A may low freely through the wire conductors Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of one of 3 and 4, one end of each conductor is left exthe clamps encased in the protective means and lo posed to contact with the associated post, as applied to a battery post. shown by Figs. 3 and 4. The clamps I and 2 are Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View also provided with spaced inwardly extending of parts similar to those shown by Fig. 3. contacts 2l and 22, which project into spaced Referring in detail to the different parts, A apertures in the inner walls 23 and 24 of the designates a storage battery equipped with the i, protectors to engage the respective posts B and customary positive and negative terminal posts C and thus afford additional paths for the flow B and C, respectively. of electric current to and from the battery.

Terminal clamps I and 2, with split body por- R hile I prefer to substantially incase each tions adapted to embrace the posts B and C, are clamp completely within the protective covering equipped with customary lead and return wire 40 as shown by the drawing, most of the outer wall conductors 3 and 4, respectively, forming parts 25 of the protective means may be dispensed with of the battery circuit. Jaws 5 and 6 of the clamps as the inner wall 23 or 2B and hood I3 or I4 will I and 2 are provided with alined openings for afford eicient protection for the associated reception of the usual transverse bolts 1 and 8 clamp and terminal post. having nuts 9 and I0 for securing the clamps in 45 In order to apply the protected clamp 2 to a cooperative relation with the posts B and C. battery post, the nut IG is loosened to permit In order to protect the terminal posts B and the split body portion to expand so that it will C, the clamps I and 2, and the adiacent ends of readily pass down in position upon the post. The the wire conductors 3 and 4 from dust, water, nut I@ is then tightened to draw the jaws 6 electrolyte and other detrimental foreign sub 50 towards each other and compress the inner wall stances likely to cause corrosion of the terminals, 2A. of the insulating material into frictional enand especially to prevent such substances from gagement with the post and thus reliably hold getting in between the posts B and C and the the clamp in assembly therewith. Tightening of clamps I and 2, I encase the clamps in prothe nut Iii also draws the contacts 22 into entectors II and I2 which are provided with hoods 55 gag-ement with the battery post so that electric current can flow freely to the clamp 2 and the remainder of the battery circuit (not shown). Current may also flow directly to the conductor 4 through the end thereof in direct contact with the battery post C. The same procedure is followed in applying one of the clamps to the positive post B of the battery,

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is apparent that I have provided simple and inexpensive protective means for the terminals of storage batteries which will prolong the life and eiciency of such batteries by keeping their terminals clean and free from detrimental eiects of foreign substances which corrode the terminals and lower eiciency ol the battery.

`contracting the body portion in order to compress the insulating material and force said contacts into electrical engagement with the battery post.

2. A battery clamp comprising a split body portion adapted to encompass a battery post and provided with a pair of spaced jaws, a bolt projecting through alined openings in said jaws, a vnut threaded upon one end of said bolt and adapted to cooperate therewith in drawing the jaws towards each other to firmly hold the clamp in position upon the post, and insulating material covering the clamp and provided with alined tubular projections to encase the intermediate portion of the bolt.

3. A battery clamp comprising a split body portion adapted to encompass a battery post and provided with a pair of spaced jaws, insulating material covering said jaws and the inner and outer surfaces of the body portion, that portion of the insulating material covering the inner surface of the body portion having spaced apertures, spaced contacts projecting into the apertures from the inner surface of the body portion, a bolt projecting through alined openings in the jaws, a nut threaded upon one end of said bolt and adapted to cooperate therewith in drawing the jaws towards each other to compress the apertured portion of the insulating material and force said contacts into electrical engagement with the battery post, and alined tubular projections of insulating material covering the intermediate portion of the bolt.

A battery clamp comprising a split body portion adapted to encompass a battery post and provided with a pair of spaced jaws, a bolt projecting through alined openings in said jaws, a nut threaded upon one end ofsaid bolt and adapted to cooperate therewith in drawing the jaws towards each other to rrnly hold the clamp in position upon the post, and insulating material covering the clamp and provided with alined tubular projections to encase the intermediate portion of the bolt, said insulating material also having a hood to cover the upper end of the post and extend over the bolt. y

CLYDE HELM. 

